FIVE UH ALUMNI HONORED AS TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
Awards Highlight Early Career Success of Recent Education Graduates
By Raúl Rosa Negrón
July 13, 2026 —
Aliyah Vidales recall the motivational mantra her first-grade teacher used to say in class: “My teacher believes I can, so I did.”
Today, Vidales is an award-winning teacher who gives her own second-grade students the same pep talk.
“I have wanted to be in education so I could make a difference in my students’ lives in the way my first-grade teacher, who is now my mentor, did for me,” Vidales said.
Vidales is one of at least five recent graduates of the University of Houston College of Education who won Teacher of the Year awards for 2025-26 — an early sign of the impact these new educators are having in classrooms across the region.
Teacher of the Award Winners 2025-26:
• Elise Garcia (Galena Park ISD) — District & School Level
• Agustina Mansilla (Humble ISD) — School Level
• Maria Pizano (Channelview ISD) — School Level
• Melissa Trevino (Pasadena ISD) — School Level
• Aliyah Vidales (Galveston ISD) — District & School Level
Though they teach different grade levels and subjects, the five alumni share a common commitment: creating supportive classroom environments and helping students believe in themselves. They credited supportive professors and the College’s yearlong teaching residency for providing a strong foundation for leading their own classrooms.
“The College of Education played a significant role in my development by providing meaningful hands-on experiences and a strong support system throughout the program,” Mansilla said. “The combination of coursework, field experiences and mentorship helped me enter the classroom feeling confident and prepared to make a positive impact on my students.”
Read more about what these award-winning teachers learned in their first year and what they hope their students carry with them long after leaving their classrooms.
Melissa Trevino
First Year Teacher of the Year 2025-26
L.F. Smith Elementary School | Pasadena ISD
B.S. in Teaching and Learning (’24)
What has been the most rewarding part of your first year of teaching?
The most rewarding part of my first year has been building meaningful relationships with my students and watching them grow in confidence throughout the year. Seeing them overcome challenges, celebrate their successes and believe in themselves has been incredibly rewarding.
Was there a professor, course or experience at UH that had a big impact on you as a teacher?
Dr. Justin Burris, Dr. Anne Katz and Dr. Heather Domjan all had a tremendous impact on me during my time at UH. Their classes taught me valuable lessons that I have carried with me into my own classroom every day. They helped me build confidence, strengthen my teaching practices and better understand how to support all learners.
What do you hope your students remember most about your class?
More than any lesson I taught, I want them to remember our classroom was a safe place where they felt valued and encouraged. I hope they leave knowing they are capable of achieving great things. Most importantly, I hope they remember that they always had someone in their corner cheering them on.